Temporary Tattoos Could Leave Permanent Scars

[Hum]

If you want to show off some cool body art over spring break, but you're not willing to have it permanently etched onto your arm, realistic-looking temporary tattoos seem like a healthy compromise. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday warned people to watch out. Apparently, certain temporary tattoos can still cause permanent damage.

"Just because a tattoo is temporary it doesn't mean that it is risk free," Dr. Linda Katz, director of FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, said in a statement.

The FDA's warning has to do with temporary tattoos made with "black henna" ink containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a coal-tar product that is approved for use in hair dye but is known to cause skin reactions in some people. Traditional, reddish-brown henna and stick-on temporary tattoos (the ones that look like stickers and are applied with water) are not part of the warning.

Unlike permanent tattoos, in which ink is injected under the skin, "black henna" tattoos are drawn or stenciled onto the skin's surface. They're popular with vendors at beaches, boardwalks, resorts, and fairs because they're easy to apply quickly and make for long-lasting, dark, realistic-looking temporary body art.

But PPD can also have horrible side effects. The FDA has received reports of "redness, blisters, raised red weeping lesions, loss of pigmentation, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and even permanent scarring" in adults and children who have had "black henna" applied to their skin. Reactions can occur right away, a few days after exposure, or even as long as two or three weeks after the temporary tattoo was applied.

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[HawkMan]

since when was this news ? they've been warning about this for years.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

since when was this news ? they've been warning about this for years.

that's what i was thinking

[remixedcat]

OMG and guess what guys????

drinking water can kill you!!!????

[.Markus]

Get a proper tattoo, or don't do it at all..

[Hum]

If I want a skin drawing, I use colored pencil dipped in water. :p

[HawkMan]

OMG and guess what guys????

drinking water can kill you!!!????

What does drinking water have in common with putting toxic ink on your skin?

[Growled Member]

Get a proper tattoo, or don't do it at all..

That's right. Stop being such babies.

[remixedcat]

What does drinking water have in common with putting toxic ink on your skin?

tons of these stupid "sky is falling" studies that say "omg this will hurt you" "omg that will hurt you" and stuff and really anything in this world is capable of hurting you,, everyone makes a big deal when they discover a new thing that will hurt you. Then everyone gets alarmed over nothing...

water, pillows, cats, dogs, paper, pepsi bottles, monitors, speakers, stuffed animals, desks, knives, guns, anything can hurt you and you shouldn't be sooooo alarmed... just realize it and move on.

[HawkMan]

Well certain things like toxic ink is a bit more risky than drinking water, and completely unnecessary to boot. And it's not new and no study needed to know the **** has a relatively high risk of scarring you for life.

[FloatingFatMan]

since when was this news ? they've been warning about this for years.

It's probably getting more popular, so an extra warning is a good idea. You'd be amazed how many ignorant folks there are in the world.

[HawkMan]

Most know about the dangers and just don't care, because they're drunk don't think it won't affect them,(and, well, chances are it won't) or it's a kid asking and the parents are idiots and do everything the kid asks for.

[Torolol]

yeah, tell that to tobacco products users ...

[Draconian Guppy]

Man do these FDA nincompoops even try stuff out on themselves. So they heard 1 person out of a million gets rash because of Henna, big deal, they should go and have a survey in india were newborn children are marked with henna because of tradition

[HawkMan]

Man do these FDA nincompoops even try stuff out on themselves. So they heard 1 person out of a million gets rash because of Henna, big deal, they should go and have a survey in india were newborn children are marked with henna because of tradition

it's a lot more than that, closer to somewhere between one in somewhere between a thousand to a hundred.

[Mr. Gibs]

Man do these FDA nincompoops even try stuff out on themselves. So they heard 1 person out of a million gets rash because of Henna, big deal, they should go and have a survey in india were newborn children are marked with henna because of tradition

Traditional, reddish-brown henna and stick-on temporary tattoos (the ones that look like stickers and are applied with water) are not part of the warning.